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Cincinnati vs. Fresno State
Betting Odds - Pick em
9/4/10
The Cincinnati Bearcats and Fresno State Bulldogs enter the 2010 college
football season depleted, or at least that is the impression of the general
public. The Bearcats are without hotshot QB Tony Pike, now a member of the
Carolina Panthers, and all time leading WR Mardy Gilyard, who is now with the
St. Louis Rams. The Bulldogs will be absent RB Ryan Matthews who was selected in
the first round
on the NFL Draft after rushing for 1,808 yards and 18 TDs in
2009. This game will be a grudge match as Cincinnati defeated Fresno State 28-20
at Nippert Stadium. This year's game will be at Fresno State. The Bearcats will
be playing for new coach Butch Jones for the first time in this game. Let's take
a look at each team.
QB Zach Collaros will take over after starting several games last year while
Tony Pike was injured. Collares passed for a whopping 1,434 yards and 10 TDs
while attempting only 124 passes. He added 344 more yards on the ground
averaging 6.0 ypc. Collaros is a speedy runner capable of not only passing, but
rocketing up the field for a first down. He had many weapons at his disposable,
the best of which is WR Armon Binn who had 888 yards and 11 TDs last year. His
longest reception was 81 yards. USC transfer Vidal Hazelton will be formidable.
The senior stands 6-3 tall and can go up and get passes. TE Ben Guidugli is one
of the best in the country at his position. If the pass attack stalls then RB
Isaiah Pead is quite capable of getting yards on the ground. The junior broke
all of two time Heisman winner Archie Griffin's records (they attended the same
high school). Last year he had 806 yards on 6.7 ypc.
While the offense in Cincinnati is high flying and multifaceted, the defense is
suspect. With just 5 starters coming back its tough to determine how good or bad
they will perform as a unit. The defensive backs will be tougher with Dominuqe
Battle and Drew Frey back as starters. LB JK Schaffer had 3 INTs and 100 tackles
last year. If Fresno State can exploit Cincinnati's inexperienced defense and
stall their explosive offense they will have a great chance of coming out the
victors of this game, but are they capable of doing that?
Fresno State returns 8 starters on offense from a team that was 8-5 last year.
The offensive line is among the best in the entire nation. That means two things
for this game. First, they will probably push around the Bearcats defensive
line. Two, the inexperienced running game will appear much better as a result.
RB Robert Rouse takes over for Matthews. Rouse is a compact runner at 5-7 and we
know little about his ability. He had 479 yards last year. QB Ryan Colburn is a
senior who passed for 1,808 yards and 19 TDs a year ago.
The defense for Fresno State boasts 7 returning starters including leading
tackler MLB Ben Jacobs who had 106 tackles and 8 tackles for a loss last year.
The defensive line for the Bulldogs will be vastly improved behind the strength
of NT Cornell Banks. If the Fresno State defense can get to Zach Collaros and
keep the Bearcats from moving the ball their chances of winning will go up.
The Cincinnati Bearcats offense was able to move the ball at will last year.
They led Fresno State by double digits on three separate occasions during last
year's game. Is Fresno State going to be able to win this year despite the loss
of offensive powerhouse Ryan Matthews?
Pat Hill and Fresno State shine in these situations. Pat Hill has been known as a "Giant Killer" throughout his career at Fresno. There are numerous examples of this over the years. It's a "we'll play anyone anywhere attitude" and it seems as though the higher the profile of the opponent, the better Fresno State plays. Fresno State has more horses left from a year ago than Cinci. The Bearcats may not be what they were, but this is the first game of the season, and until proven otherwise, this Cincinnati team is still a team that went 12-1 last season.
Revenge is too sweet to pass up here. The price is right.
Fresno State pk